Arkhangelsk Puppet Theatre was formed in 1933. Its creators were young actors and students of the Leningrad studio at Arkhangelsk Youth Theatre under the direction of A. Engelhardt (Varakin K., M. Bobrov, I. and E. Kochnev Furkova).

Initially, puppet theater was a studio of puppeteers. Experience and professionalism have appeared in regular rehearsals and first performances. The first were glove puppets that produced the artists themselves. Dolls were driven hand actor. The first performances - "Carousel", "turnip" "Stёpka-rastrёpka" - staged for the youngest viewers. Performances can be seen both in the theater and at the exits (playgrounds, clubs).

In 1941-1945 years, it turned into a puppet theater "Variety Theatre and puppets." He gave performances in hospitals and units of the army with anti-fascist puppet performances and concert programs. 1940-1950 years - a difficult period for the puppet theater associated with frequent tours, relocation, lack of own premises, the prevalence of pop productions, moving closer puppet shows, a change of leader. Revived Arkhangelsk Puppet Theatre in the 1960s. While there was a general rise of the art of puppet theaters in the country. Then the theater regained his room and was awarded a diploma of the Ministry of Culture of the Soviet Union for the play "Silver hoof" Bazhov.

In the 1970s, the theater has replenished by young professionals, puppeteers, a graduate of the Leningrad State Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography (Course Queen MM). Including the main theater director found - Valery Shadsky and artist dolls by Elena Nikolaeva, dolls which received recognition not only among the audience, but also art. Theatre's repertoire has replenished the first performances for adults: "Love, love! .." Based on the "Decameron" Giovanni Boccaccio and others. There were also many performances of famous fairy tales of the Russian people and foreign writers of fairy tales. Composed music for the play composer Peter Koltsov V. Sukhin, Mr. Portnov, and others.

In 1980 Arkhangelsk Puppet Theatre is running directors Deriagin and D. Lohova appears on the All-Union arena. Fakes "Petersburg story" N. Gogol story "Creepy Mr. Au" Finnish writer H. McKellen, the novel "Les Miserables" Victor Hugo, works of B. Shergina. The idea of ​​the teacher M. Melnitskaya in 1985 when the theater was formed society lovers dolls, which brought together around the theater of children and their parents.

In 1986, the former Palace of Pioneers became the theater house. In the same year took part in the international movement and puppet theater has become an institutional member of the International Union of puppet theater. Also at this time Dmitry Lokhov becomes the chief director of the theater. And 3 years later he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia. In the 1990s, actors puppet theater S. Mikhailov, A. Churkin, V. Nikitinskaya also received the title of Honored Artist of Russia.

In 1991, the theater was organized by the I International festival of chamber performances of puppet theaters "Snail". In 1997 he performed at the International Theatre Festival in Avignon (France). He has toured in Sweden, Germany, Finland, Greece, Norway.

Since 1999, the theater is working youth studio «Dur» («Major"), in 2000 there appeared a literary and theater room, where theater actors are their own work.

Today Arkhangelsk Puppet Theatre is one of the best Russian creative teams. He was twice awarded the National Theatre Award "Golden Mask" in 1996 and 2003, winner of the prize of the International Festival «Nevsky Pierrot" in 1994, participates in many Russian and European international festivals and is the organizer of the International Festival of chamber performances of puppet theaters "snail" in Arkhangelsk.